Ments



G. M. MILLER.

SHACKLE FOR PADLOCKS. APPLICAHON FILED JULY l5,1920.

fl Quota/m Patented May 24, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. KILLER, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO FBAm-SLAYMAKER HARDWARE COMPANY, INC., OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA,

SHACKLE FOR PADLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application filed July 15, 1920. Serial No. 396,425.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shackles for Padlocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to looks, and more particularly to safety or thief-proof padlocks for use on automobiles and other vehicles to prevent tires from being stolen.

The invention resides more specifically in a lock-arm or shackle of novel form and shape adapted to engage the lugs used to secure a tire on the wheel rim at the rear of the vehicle and secure the two members together in such manner as to prevent movement of the removable member or the insertion of a tool for separating the shackle from the case containing the locking mechanism without first removing the lock. The unique shape of the shackle per se permits the convement use of the lock for the purpose stated and in other places where ordinary padlocks would be too large for appliance or else too weak to be of any value in securing the desired parts together with any degree of safety in preventing the case and shackle or locking mechanism from being easily broken and torn apart.

Other novel and convenient features of a shackle embodying my invention will more fully ap ar from the following description with refdi'ehce to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective viewof a spare tire rack of ordinary construction in common use on automobiles, illustrating the application of my improved lock to the securing brackets or lugs by which a mounted tire or casing is fastened to the rear of a vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking-arm or shackle detached.

Referring to said drawings, in which like characters of reference are used to denote corresponding parts in different views, A denotes a longitudinally slidable locking arm or shackle of peculiar form somewhat resembling a staple having one straight arm and the other bent outwardly away from said straight arm at practically right angles thereto, at a point intermediate its length, and then forwardly, so as to bring one part of said bent arm out of but substantially parallel with the line of another part, thus forming an offset or double crooked portion providing a shoulder or abutment for a purpose hereinafter stated. Along the free end portions of the respective arm members of the shackle, upon the inner or opposing faces thereof, are cut equidistantly spaced notches or teeth of ratchet form, the shouldered portions or straight edges of the teeth or notches facing the curved or head portion of the shackle body for engagement with looking bolts within a case B, containing any suitable locking mechanism whereby the shackle arms may be retained therein when inserted in the usual way, and adapted to be unlocked and released by means of a key properly designed to fit the look, as usual in the construction of padlocks in common use.

The letter C, denotes a skeleton rim or circular plate forming a part of and supported by the usual iron tire racks (not shown) with which most automobiles are equipped for carrying auxiliary or what is commonly known as spare tires. A demountable rim D, within which a pneumatic tire or spare casing is mounted, is loosely fitted over the rim C and an angle iron lug or bracket E, bolted, brazed or welded to the rim C, is provided with an orifice near the upper extremity of its upright portion and an opposing removable lug or bracket member E of conventional type, having at its lower end a wedge-like portion, is normally tensionally held with its wedge-like portion lying between the skeleton rim and the demountable rim, and tending to normally spread them apart, and secured to the tire rack in a well known manner by a fastening bolt F. The bracket member E is also provided with a hole near its upper end which registers with the first mentioned hole or orifice in the bracket member E, and the straight arm of the shackle A may be passed through these orifices, while the other arm rests in open-ended slots in the free ends of the two bracket members, with that part of V at the base of the slot in the bracket member E and that part which is farthest from said straight arm arranged near the outer end of theother, thus providing an extended bearing for the bent arm and increasing the leverage, so that when the lock-case B is applied and pressed into engagement with the shackle along the ratcheted locking portions thereof, the said bracket members are securely bound together and the spare tire can not be removed until the shackleis released and withdrawn from the case. The peculiar shape of the shackle adapts it to be used with a case of larger size than the cases usually employed and which may contain secure locking mechanism which is stout and substantial and adapted to withstand abuseand resist any ordinary attempt to break the lock, and any such attempt is also made more diflicultof success by the close and tight fit of the assembled parts which prevent the insertion of a tool between the shackle arms and the case, and insures a safe lock. Besides serving its intended purpose as a lock, such a device will obviously also serve as a preventive means against the tire becoming loosened and jarred off the rack while the automobile is in motion, which might reasonably happen when touring over rough roads. The peculiar bend in the shackle makes the lock particularly adaptable to the above described use, and so closely may the lock embrace the respective brackets, that it is impossible for a tool of any size or tensile strength to be inserted between it and the lock-case to force such elements apart. Although I have illustrated only one specific use for a lock shackle of'this peculiar design, it is obvious that it may be applied to other uses wherein an efiicient and strong lock is not only desirable but essential.

Having thus described my invention, what I, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lock, a shackle having one of its arms bent abruptly outwardly away from the other arm substantially at right angles thereto at a point intermediate its length and then forwardly, so as to bring'it out of the line of its head portion but substantially parallel therewith and with the other arm, the latter being straight, whereby the two arms are made to extend near together in substantially parallel planes from the head portion thereof to said intermediate point and wide apart from said point to their free ends, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination, a lock case having openings therethrough and means therein for automatic locking engagement with a notched arm or arms of a shackle inserted in said openings, and a shackle having one of its arms bent abruptly outwardly away from the other arm substantially at right angles thereto at a point intermediate its length and then forwardly, so as to bring it out of the line of its head portion but substantially parallel therewith and with the other arm, the latter being straight, whereby the two arms are made to extend near togcther in substantially parallel planes from the head portion thereof to said intermediate point and wide apart from said point to' their free ends, substantially asand for the purpose described.

3. In combination with a pair of lugs or bracket members having registering apertures therethrough and open-ended, slots in their free ends, means for securing them together, said meanscomprising a shackle hav-' ing a straight arm inserted in said apertures and its other arm bent so as to bring the free end portion thereof out of but substantially parallel with the line of its head portion and widely separate the same from said straight arm, that part of the bent arm nearest said straight arm resting within the slot in one of said bracket members while that part which is farthest from said straight arm is arranged in a different plane near the free end of the slot in the adjacent bracket member, one or both of said arms being notched, and a case having openings therethrough in which said shackle arms are inserted, said case having suitable locking mechanism therein for engaging said notched arm or arms and looking it thereon.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature Witnesses:

FLORENCE I. MENTZER, GEO. L. VDIEHL. 

